Detachably mounted cam operator for multiple reciprocating contact switch assembly

ABSTRACT

An electric switch characterized by a switch handle rotatably mounted in a cylindrical housing, the handle being rotatable in at least two sectors, each sector having a different number of switch positions, and limited by movement therein for a given number of switch operations, the handle being resettable for operation in another sector, cam means carried by the switch handle and detachably mounted in a position corresponding to the preselected sector, and the cam means engaging reciprocable plunger means for actuating electric contacts between open and closed positions.

' United States: Patent 1191 Kellogg [4 Nov. 11, 1975 [5 DETACHABLY MOUNTED CAM 2,947,827 8/1960 Bundy et a1 200/16 A O O O MULTIPLE 3.118.026 1/1964 Pusch et al. 200/16 A 3,142.187' 7/1964 Kane et al ZOO/16 A X RISESCIPROCATING CONTACT SWITCH 3,170,995 2/1965 M11116 1 200/4 A EMBLY I 3,251,956 5/1966 Rasor et a1 200/14 [75] Inventor: Walter J. Kellogg, Beaver, Pa.

73 A W Pl'illltll) Examiner-James R. Scott Sslgnee a gagzg if g Corporauon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-L. P. Johns 22 Fld: M 3174- 21 A l N 46 :75 8 9 [57] ABSTRACT 1 PP- 7 An electric switch characterized by a switch handle rotatably mounted in a cylindrical housing, the handle [52] US. Cl. 200/16 A; 200/ 153 L being rotatable in at least two sectors, each sector 15 ft-CL H01". 3/ 80 having a different number of switch positions, and lim- Field of fi 16 153 ited by movement therein for a given number of ZOO/153 LA, 153 LB, 290, 291, switch operations, the handle being resettable for op- 200/296, 307, 329-340 eration in another sector, cam means carried by the 1 switch handle and detachably mounted in a position [56] References Cited corresponding to the preselected sector, and the cam UNITED STATES PATENTS means engaging reciprocable plunger means for actu- 2 488,982 11/1949 Mekelburg 200/4 x afing electric contacts between p and losed posi- 2,707.213 4/1955 Koertge et al. 200/4 x nons- 2,734,953 2/1956 Jenkins et al. ZOO/4 X 2,748,208 5/1956 Koertge 200/16 A 7 5 Drawmg F'gures 2,908,776 10/1959 Nolden et a1. ZOO/4 1" I -I 111 W m 63 65 '15 I I :1 73- readw 3: =17 i Q 3 1 l 1 1 1 L1 11 US. Patent; Nov,11, 1975 Sheet10f2 3,919,506

DETACHABLY MOUNTED CAM OPERATOR FOR MULTIPLE RECIPROCATING CONTACT SWITCH ASSEMBLY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This invention is related to the invention disclosed in the application of W. J. Kellogg, Ser. No. 466,757, filed May 3, 1974.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an electric switch operator for moving contacts between open and closed positions in various combinations.

2. Description of the Prior Art Electric switches are commonly employed in circuits for controlling electrical apparatus. Such switches are usually of the pushbutton type, or they may be of the rotary selector type, and each type of switch is often used in locations where accidental or mistaken alteration of a particular electrical circuit may have serious detrimental consequences. For example, such switches are disclosed in US. PatyNos. 2,748,210, 3,33,079, 3,511,955, and 3,367,206. In some circumstances it is particularly desirable to provide switches which embody parts which are either resettable to alternate positions or interchangeable with alternate parts in order to obtain different switch functions. Manifestly, it is advantageous to provide switches .in which such parts are easily detachable to facilitate either their manipulation to an alternate position or their substitution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, in accordance with this invention it has been found that advantages may be obtained by providing a switch operator comprising a switch handle rotatably mounted within a cylindrical housing, the handle being rotatable in at least two sectors, each sector having a different number of switch positions, fixed stop means for limiting rotation of the handle within a preselected sector, cam means carried by the switch handle and detachably mounted in a position corresponding to the preselected sector, at least one set of upper stationary contacts, at least one set of lower stationary contacts, movable contact operating means including at least one guided reciprocal plunger, the movable contact operating means also having a bridging contact carrier movable in response to movement of each plunger, the cam means engaging the reciprocal plunger, and the cam means being interchangeably adjustable to a position corresponding to each sector.

The invention also comprises an electric switch of a pushbutton type in which a switch housing extends through an opening in a panel of a switch enclosure, a legend plate is mounted on the exterior surface of the panel and around the switch housing, a clamp ring engaging the assembly of the legend plate and panel and having spaced segments extending through an aperture aligned with the aperture in the panel, and said segments engaging the inner surface of the panel for holding the legend plate in place.

The advantage of the device of this invention is that it provides for easy movement of parts to alternate positions or for the substitution of parts to obtain alternate switch functions in the field, and thereby minimizes manufacturing caused by reducing the number and types of switches required storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing a rotary selector switch embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on theline IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of one type of replaceable cam; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation showing a switch of the pushbutton type in accordance with this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 a rotary selector switch is generally indicated at 7 and it comprises a housing 9, a contact actuator 11, a cam 13, and contact blocks 15. I

The housing 9 is a cylindrical body, the upper end of which is open and extends through an aperture 17 in a panel 19 of an enclosure. The housing 9 also includes a web 21 the center of which comprises an opening 23. The housing 9 also comprises a base 25.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the web 21 .includes a plurality of spaced notches 27, 29, 31, 33, and 35 for the purpose of receiving a detent 37 which is in a contact actuator 11. Although five notches 27-35 are shown, it is understood that more or Iess'may be provided in groups of two or more, depending upon a particular function to be performed by the switch 7. More particularly, the web 21 may be divided intotwo or more sectors. For the purpose ofillustration the web 21 is divided into two sectors by an imaginary line 39, whereby the sectors on opposite sides are semi-annular with three notches 27, 29, 31 being disposed in one sector and the notches 33, 35 being disposed in a second sector. It is understood that two or more sectors having spaced notches of closer spacing may likewise be provided depending upon the particular number of functions that the switch 7 is intended to perform. The particular purpose of the notches 27-35 in the two sectors just described is set forth in greater detail below.

The contact actuator 11 is rotatably mounted in the upper sleeve portion of the housing 9 and includes a mannual handle 41 by which the actuator may be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise. The detent 37 is seated within a hole 43 in which a coil spring 45 is seated with the spring biasing the detent 37 downwardly into one of the notches 27-35 as the actuator 1 l is rotated. A lower portion or stem 47 of the actuator 11 extends through the opening 23 where it is retained in place by a lock washer 49. The stem 47 has a noncircular cross-section so that rotation of the handle 41 also rotates the cam 13.

The cam 13, being mounted on the stem 47, is preferably a cylindrical cam having a cam surface including a number of plateaus including plateau 51, 53, and 55 with incline cam surfaces 57 and 59 therebetween. A plunger 61 of the contact block 15 is actuated by the cam 13 between the several plateaus 51-55, whereby movable contacts 63, 65 are moved from closed circuit positions with stationary contacts 67, 69 when the upper end of the plunger 61 engages the plateau 51.

.When the plunger 61 engages the plateau 55, the

contacts 63, 65 engage stationary contact 71, 73 which are connected by suitable conductors to terminal connectors 75, 77, respectively. The stationary contacts 67 and 69 are similarly connected to terminal connectors (not shown in the drawing). When the plunger 61 engages the plateau 53 of the cam 13, the movable contacts 63, 65 are disposed in an intermediate position between the uppe. and lower sets of contacts, whereby they are disposed in the open position. It is understood for the purpose of this invention that a plurality .of sets of upper and lower stationary contacts with a corresponding number of movable contacts mounted on bridging contact carriers, such as the contact carriers 79, may be provided at various levels or tiers on the plunger 61 in a conventional manner.

Moreover, it is pointed that the cylindrical cam surfaces including the plateaus 51, 53, 55, and cam surfaces 57, 59 extend over a sector of the cam periphery extending up to 180, so that a corresponding cam surface -may beprovided on the other sector of the cam periphery for actuating another plunger (not shown) similar to the plunger 61 extend from a contact block adjacent to:the contact block 15.

- As shown in FIG. 3, the cam 13 includes at least one and preferably a pair of peripheral projections 81 which upon rotation of the handle 41 are brought into engagement with corresponding projection 83 extendingin-wardlyfrom the base 25 of the housing 9. Accordingly, wherethe web 21 is provided with two sectors of j a; 180 angle, the actuator 11 is rotatable through approximately l80 with the detent 87 operating either in the three notches 27, 29,31 or the two notches 33 and 3,5..lnas'much as the cam 13 includes three plateaus 51, 53, 55, the cam is placed on the stem 47 so that the projections 81 are disposed on the side of the projections 83 to enable the detent 37 to engage the three notches 27, 29, 31. Thus, the movable contacts 63, 65 may be moved between the three positions set forth above including closed positions with the either upper or lower pairs of stationary contacts or an intermediate open position therebetween.

Where it is desirable to use only two of the three positions, the cam 13 may be reset on the stem 47 with respect to the detent 37 so that the detent operates merely in the sector having the two notches 33, 35. For that purpose one of the plateaus may be inoperative depending upon the spacing of the notches 33, 35.

In the alternative the cam 13 may be replaced by another'cam 85 (FIG. 4) which has only two plateaus 87, 89 with an inclined cam surface 91 therebetween.

Where more than one set of upper and lower stationary contacts with corresponding numbers of movable contacts are provided with different spacings than those shown for the contacts 63-73, more than two or three notches per sector may be provided and a housing having three or more sectors in the web 21 likewise may be substituted for the housing 9.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. in which a pushbutton type of switch is disclosed as generally indicated at 93. The switch 93 includes a sleeve type housing 95 as well as a plunger type actuator 97 which is movably mounted within the housing. The actuator 97 includes a shaft 99 which extends through aweb portion 101 and is secured in place by an operating washer 103. A return spring 105 .is disposed between the actuator 97 and the web 101. The

housing 95 includes a base 107 which is mounted on one or more contact blocks 109 which block is provided with an actuating plunger 111 for operating contacts between open and closed positions.

In accordance with this invention, the upper end of the housing 95 extends through an aperture 113 in a panel 115. A legend plate 117 having some identification for the switch 93, such as the word start or stop," printed thereon is mounted on the outer surface of the panel 115 where it is secured by a clamp ring 119. The clamp ring 119 has an upper surface which is preferably aligned with the outer surface of the actuator 97 and is annular so that it completely shrouds the outer end portion of the housing 95. in addition, the clamp rings 1 19 include spaced prongs or segments 121 extending inwardly through the aperture 113 and having out-turned surfaces 123 for engaging the inner surface of the panel 115, so that the legend plate 117 is secured against the outer surface of the panel and between surfaces 123 and 125 of the clamp ring 119.

In order to prevent the legend plate 117 from rotating from a desired position, two of the three members including the clamp ring 119, the legend plate 117, and the panel 115 comprise notch means and the third of said members comprises a projection extending into said notch means. As shown in FIG. 5, the legend plate 117 comprises a projection 127 which extends into a notch 129 in the panel. The notch 129 is preferably a radial extension of the aperture 113. Likewise, it is desired to prevent the clamp ring 119 from rotating with respect to the legend plate 117. A projection 131 extends into a corresponding notch 133 in the clamp ring.

Accordingly, the device of this invention satifies the problems existing in prior art devices and results in an improved electric switch.

What is claimed is:

l. A switch comprising at least one set of upper stationary contacts, at least one set of lower stationary contacts, movable contact operating means including a guided reciprocable plunger and a bridging contact carrier with each set of stationary contacts, a cylindrical housing, a switch handle within one end of the housing and rotatable therein through one limited sector thereof, the handle being detachable from the housing for replacement in another limited sector of rotation, stop means within the housing for limiting rotation of the switch within a preselected sector, the switch handle being rotatable to a different number of switch positions in each sector, a cam detachably mounted on the handle and having a number of cam surfaces corresponding to the number of switch positions of the preselected sector, and the cam surfaces engaging a corresponding reciprocable plunger.

2. The switch of claim 1 in which one of the switch handle and cylindrical housing comprises a detent and the other of the switch handle and cylindrical housing comprises a detent-receiving notch for each switch position.

3. The switch of claim 2 in which the detent is in the switch handle and the detent-receiving notches are in the housing.

4. The switch of claim 3 in which the cylindrical. housing includes an end wall in which the detentreceiving notches are disposed.

5. The switch of claim 1 in'which stop means are on' the cam, and the cam is resettable to a different posi-i corresponding to the number of sectors and the stop means is on the cam.

7. The switch of claim 6 in which the stop means includes a limit stop on the housing. l 

1. A switch comprising at least one set of upper stationary contacts, at least one set of lower stationary contacts, movable contact operating means including a guided reciprocable plunger and a bridging contact carrier with each set of stationary contacts, a cylindrical housing, a switch handle within one end of the housing and rotatable therein through one limited sector thereof, the handle being detachable from the housing for replacement in another limited sector of rotation, stop means within the housing for limiting rotation of the switch within a preselected sector, the switch handle being rotatable to a different number of switch positions in each sector, a cam detachably mounted on the handle and having a number of cam surfaces corresponding to the number of switch positions of the preselected sector, and the cam surfaces engaging a corresponding reciprocable plunger.
 2. The switch of claim 1 in which one of the switch handle and cylindrical housing comprises a detent and the other of the switch handle and cylindrical housing comprises a detent-receiving notch for each switch position.
 3. The switch of claim 2 in which the detent is in the switch handle and the detent-receiving notches are in the housing.
 4. The switch of claim 3 in which the cylindrical housing includes an end wall in which the detent-receiving notches are disposed.
 5. The switch of claim 1 in which stop means are on the cam, and the cam is resettable to a different position on the switch handle for operation in a different sector.
 6. The switch of claim 1 in which the switch handle comprises a shaft for turning the cam, the cam is detachably mounted on the shaft in a number of positions corresponding to the number of sectors, and the stop means is on the cam.
 7. The switch of claim 6 in which the stop means includes a limit stop on the housing. 